The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention releases new estimates on the annual number of new HIV infections in the United States. The new data show at least 40 percent more annual infections than previous calculations. The new data were published Sunday in a special HIV/AIDS issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, which was released at the AIDS conference in Mexico City.
The Washington Post: "The main finding of its report is that HIV incidence in 2006—the latest year for which data are available—was 56,300 new cases of infection. That is 40 percent higher than the previous government estimate of 40,000, but statistical back calculation suggests that HIV incidence has been unchanged since about 2000." The revised estimates are based on data from a new advanced testing method, which enables researchers to detect recent HIV infections.
The epidemic continues to decimate the black community and black gay men the hardest. Researchers say blacks are at least 45 percent of new infections in 2006 and the prevalence of HIV is "seven times higher in blacks and three times higher in Hispanics than in whites." Dr. Kevin Fenton, who heads the CDC's AIDS branch, says young black gay men are "especially" at risk and the soaring seroconversions in that demographic is evidence prevention campaigns have "not reached all those who need it." Unfortunately, at the same time New York City health officials say the largest increases in HIV rates are among young black gay men, the city's best known black gay service and HIV prevention organization is in a shambles.
Writing in The Daily Voice, Phill Wilson, the founder and chief executive officer of the Black AIDS Institute, says the CDC's most "urgent research priority" is to offer prevention and risk assessment to the black community. "We cannot afford a long delay in getting this information out, and the CDC must clearly communicate directly with the Black community about when the information will be available."
AIDS Prevention Having an Effect [WaPo]
More than 56k in U.S. Infected with AIDS Each Year [Reu]
CDC Study Reveals Gaping Holes [TDV]
Some Background ...
CDC: "Troubling" Rise in HIV Among Black Gay Men [R20]
GMHC's "I Love My Boo" Campaign [R20]
HIV Rates Rising Among Black NYC Gay Men [R20]
CDC Tracking "Serious" Strain of Syphilis [R20]
The HIV Morning After Pill? [R20]
Black Gay Men and "The Pill" [R20]
Jonathan Perry in "The Advocate" [R20]
Ending Black Homophobia Will Reduce HIV [R20]
Do You Disclose Your HIV Status? [R20]
Primetime Reports Black HIV Epidemic [After Elton]
"Out of Control: AIDS in Black America" [R20]
POZ Examines Race and the Down Low [R20]
HIV Rates Rise Among NYC Black Gay Men [R20]
Phill Wilson: Candidates Must Address HIV/AIDS [R20]
POZ Examines Race and the “Down Low” [R20]
"Urban Rally Against AIDS" [R20]
The ABCs of Black HIV [R20]
Wow. This is really sad news. And who do we blame for this? See, I'll keep it real: I blame the family members of some of these youth being affective with HIV. I also blame the federal government.
Posted by: Mel Smith | 04 August 2008 at 18:39
There are so many people, places and things to blame. The instantaneous youth culture, the internet, ignorance of history, economics, lack of access to health care, and let us not forget self hatred, homophobia and the black church.
Where do we go from here?
Posted by: BL | 04 August 2008 at 20:19
Where do we go from here?
The first place to go is as far away from the church as possible, and towards some people who offer genuine love, understanding, and assistance.
Posted by: Jim | 05 August 2008 at 00:25
No what is needed is starting today right now is ALL go and get tested and get better. Make better choices in our sexual partners and make wise decisions. We need to take back what was yours at first....knowledge. You should know your status....if you are negative stay negative. If you are positive get treated if you can. Go to states that have free or assistant. This day and age this HIV/AIDS is not a life sentence....you make the choice.
Posted by: cedric | 05 August 2008 at 07:52
As a person living with HIV, I know what WE can do: be upfront with our partners about our status, practice safer sex and choose not to put people at risk.
I have been positive for 13 years and had to cease going to some places for, um, attention because men were rather adamant that I NOT to use a condom (these places, as we all know, are not generally conducive to long conversations). My friends kept telling me that I should not care, that others had a responsibility to protect themselves. I know that is true but I could not, in good conscience, do it.
Posted by: Chris | 05 August 2008 at 08:58
A lot of these kids don't have support from their family members. Therefore, it does not make any sense for us to pretend like that's not the problem. We ignore too many things about us. At least the heterosexual blacks receive love from their family members. Many of us don't.
Posted by: Mel Smith | 05 August 2008 at 13:24